Matt Writtle's Portraits for Posterity

Portraits for Posterity by photographer Matt Writtle is part of an ongoing project documenting survivors of the Holocaust. The photographs are accompanied by short biographies and messages from the sitters for the 21st century. The pictures are exhibited at City Hall, London, until January 30th

Harry Olmer survived camps at Płaszów, Skarżysko-Kamienna, Buchenwald, Schlieben and Theresienstadt. "The horrors of the second world war, especially the genocide of the Holocaust, should never be forgotten. People's memories seem very short, and genocidal horrors are still happening now"

Trude Levi survived two Hungarian camps, Auschwitz and a death march. "We were born by accident with the colour, culture, civilisation and religion ... therefore we have no right to think that we are better than others"

Thomas Konrad survived labour camps in and around Budapest. "Never before has a dictator singled out a racial or religious grouping for that reason alone and planned its total destruction, employing the tools of science to achieve his aims"

Helen Aronson survived the Łódź ghetto. "I hope that my survival, and teaching children about the horrors of World War II, will remind them that we must all be tolerant, and seek out tyrants whose aim is to kill, for no reason at all"

Roman Halter survived the Lodz ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau and Stuffhof concentration camps. "The truth of our past - the history of the Holocaust - must be taught, especially to younger generations, for the sake of concord amongst people"

Michael Etkind survived the Łódź ghetto, Czestochowianka labour camp, Buchenwald and Sonnenberg concentration camps, and a death march. He is a poet, and author of Meditation on the Holocaust. "Death is the winner of all wars / Man is their victim and their cause"

Susan Pollack survived the Vac ghetto, Monor internment camp, Auschwitz, Gubben, and Bergen-Belsen camps. "My hope is for a unified protest against all evil which diminishes not only the victim, but humanity as a whole"

Gena Turgel survived the Kraków ghetto and camps at Płaszów, Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Bergen-Belsen. "We should build bridges between the nations so these atrocities never happen again. All religions and colours should live in harmony"